Vehicle-lamp.



G. G. GREENBERG.

VEHICLE LAMP.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 19. 1909.

1 ,065,444, Patented June 24, 1913.

GEORGE G. GREENBERG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VEHICLE-LAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 24, 191 3.

Application filed April 19, 1909. Serial No. 490,668.

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE G. GREEN- nEnc, a resident 'of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois`v have invented certain new and useful ln'iprm'cmcnts in Vehicle-Lamps, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to automobile lamps and identification-tags and designs primarily 'to provide an improved device which serves the combined purpose of a lamp and an identification tag or marker.

It is now common practice to require automobiles to carry re istry numbers for convenience in identi cation and to require them to carry a tail lamp or lamps disposed to illuminate the numbers on the tags on thel car, so that they may be seen at night. In practice, however, the desired result is not always attained, because the lens of the lamp, as well as the number, frequently become covered with dust or bespattered with mud, `or both, and sometimes the lamp is not focused to illuminate the number.

The inventiondesigns to provide a transparent marker or identification tag which is embodied in a lamp so that. thc number on the tag may be, atall times, conveniently read and clearly visible, and which is adapted to be secured in asuitable place on the vehicle body. Resultantly, when the lamp is lighted, the number will be visible even though the outer face of the transparent plate becomes dusty. It is also desirable to provide a construction in which the numbers or characters are interchangeably secured to the lamp body so that the device-will be adapted to receive different numbers or characters, since essentially each must be different and the invention also designs to providean improved device which is adapted for-this interchangeability and in which the characters are separately formed from,

and secured in, position against the transparent plate of the lamp so that inevent the plate becomes broken the numbers may still be used.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

ln the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective of a vehicle equipped with the improved illuminated identification marker. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the combined lamp and tag. Fig. 3 is a vertical section thereof. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing a gas burner in the case. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

The lamp-body or case 10 is preferably of rectangular shape and sufficient in length so that one of its faces will have sufficient area to contain the figures or characters in desired or necessary number, the figures usually constituting the number and an abbreviation of the State issuing the registration. The case is narrow transversely to avoid unnecessary projection from the body of the vehicle when it is secured thereto and is provided with a straight or flat back so that it may be rigidly secured or screwed to the body of the vehicle` it being unnecessary to remove it for cleaning as is usual with vehicle-lamps generally used.

The case is formed of sheet metal, bent to form a. straight back 11 adapted to fit against the vehicle-body and to be secured thereto by screws 12, a bottom 13, ends 14, a bottom-flange 15 on the` frontface, sideflanges v15 extending inwardly from the end-walls and a strip or top-rail 15 extending across the front of the body adjacent the top thereof.

The end-walls 14 are cut to permit tongues 16 to be bent inwardly into the body of the lamp near the flanges 15 to form with the latter a guide for removably holding a transparent face-plate 17 in the case, so that the plate may be withdrawn for convenience in cleaning or replacement, and to provide access to the interior of the case to permit the screws 12 to be driven into the vehicle-body or a part thereof.

The top of the case is open and is normally closed by a door 18 which is hinged to thc upper edge of the back-wall so it may be swung to normally close the top and to overlie the edge of the transparent plate 17 and the top rail 15l or to swingr upwardly or so it may be swung upwardly to permit the transparent plate to be lifted out of the case. The top-door 18 is provided with a flange 20 which extends across the front of the body and with end-fianges 21 which are provided with securing-means such as screws adapted to enter seats or depressions 23 1n los the case-ends to securely hold the top closed and these flanges protect the .top of the case against the entry of rain or mud. e

A reflector 33 consistin of a flat' rectangular plate suitably coate extends entirely across the case adjacent the back thereof and is held against displacement therein by tongues 34 bent inwardly from the case-ends. The refiector may be formed of a straight sheet of glass or other suitable material to extend entirely cross the case so that there will be light ack ground for. all of the characters and figures on the Atransparent plate 17.

The identification figures 24 and -letters 24 are usually formed of enameled met-al, and are therefore opaque, and each is provided with a tongue 25 at its upper and at its lower end, which pass through holes 26 formed in the top rail 15El and the bottom` flange 15 respectively to separately Ior independently secure each figure or character on the outside. of the transparent plate, and in making-up these devices the bottom-flange and top-rail are perforatediwhen supplied to the dealer, and the desired number may be made up from a supply of units or figures and characters instock. The n'ame of the State issuing the registration, e. g., Ill. is similarly made of enameled metal and provided with tongues 28 whereby it may be -secured on the outside of the transparent face-plate.

A suitable burner is mounted centrally in the case to illuminate the inside thereof, as well as the face plate, and the reflector which diffuses light throughout the entire width of the case. The burner is mounted on the bottom 13 and may be either an incandescent electric lamp 80', as shown in Fi 3, or a top 31 such as is usually employed or'acetylene gas. `When the lamp is burning the entire face of the transparent plate, except those portions covered by the opaque characters will be illuminated and-produce clear contrast between the plate and the figures and render them clearly legible from a distance. Furthermore, the numbers are usually dark in color so that in daylight there will also be a distinct contrast between them and the plate to render the numbers visible during such time. The device thus described provides la combined lamp and identification tag which will cause the numbers to be clearly visible at night when the lamp is lighted and in dayli ht. Furthermore the interchangeability o the figures makesit possible to make up the numbers by collocation ofseparate units. An important advantage vof the rectangular lamp-body or case is that a straight piece o f transparent glass may be used and can be easily replaced in event .of breakage and substantially the entire front face of the body can be utilizedv for the number so it becomes possible to'uselarge clear figures which are clearlyvisblewhen the vehicle is passing at a hig speed. Furthermore it becomes os sible to use a flat mirror as a reflector w ich can also ,be 4rezully replaced in event of breakage. 1 providin the body with a .straight back which is a apted to be secured permanently and ri idly to the vehicle body and providin` the damp with a removable transparent patefand'refiector there will be no necessity'forremovin the lamp body in cleaning the vehicle, an therefore the invention provides a' device which can be permanently securedv to the vehicle.

It will be observed, by referring more particularly to Fig. 3 of the drawing, that when.

restricted to the details villustrated and de' scribed since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe. invention. y y

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure'by Letters Patent, is I 1. In a lamp for vehicles, the combination of a lamp-case, a fixed flat bottom strip and a fixed flat to strip at the front face thereof, a removab e flat transparent plate forming the front side of said case and held therein inwardly of and adjacent said strips,

a lamp in said case, and identification characters extending between said strips and separately attached thereto to lie across the outer side of said transparent plate, said characters being locked against removal by said transparent plate when the latter is in position.k i f 2. In a lamp for vehicles, the combination Yof a lamp-case, a fixed flat bottom strip and a fixed fiat to'p strip at the front face thereof, a removable fiat transparent plate forming the yfront side of said case and lheld therein inwardly of and adjacent said strips, a lamp in said case, and identification characters each provided with tongues adapted to be bent to separately engage in apertures in said strips at the top and bottom of said case, said characters being locked against removal by said transparent plate when the latter is in position. l Y

3. In a lamp forl vehicles, the combination of a Ilampfcase having an open top and face, a fixed fiat bottom strip and a fixed flat top strip at the front .face thereof, a removable flat transparent plate forming the by said transparent plate when the latter is front side of said case and held therein inin position, and a door for closing the top 10 wardly of and adjacent said strips, a lamp of said case and preventing the removal of in said case, identification characters each said transparent plate.

provided with tongues adapted t0 be bent GEORGE (lr. GREENBERG. to separately engage in apertures in said Witnesses: 1 strips at the top and bottom of said case, FREI) GERLACH,

said characters being locked against removal lIiLDUR C. PETERSEN. 

